The Third Anniversary Challenge

Rats That Go Bump In The Night

"Justin, what the fuck is taking you so long? You're the one who convinced me to throw this shindig, ya think you'd want to be on time for it!"

"Brian, keep your fucking shirt on! I have to look right."

"Shit."

At Justin's urging, or rather at his insistence, Brian decided to throw a Babylon Halloween masquerade party. Justin preferred to think of it as a fancy dress ball. Whatever the fuck it's called, it was happening within the hour and he and Justin were supposed have the first dance to start off the festivities. That is if they ever got there. In a rather strange turn of events, Brian was ready, Justin was not.

Brian, really didn't want to dress up. As proprietor of Babylon, Brian wanted to maintain some semblance of dignity. He felt he wouldn't be able to keep up the pretense in some lame costume. So as a compromise, Brian decided to go as a modern and very fashionable Count Dracula. Dress in a black Armani suit, black on black silk shirt, Brian could go from club owner to guest to owner as he pleased. His only acquisition to color was a blood-red tie. And holding the tie perfectly in place, a black diamond stud. Brian was pleased with the look and hoped Justin would be too, if the boy ever came out of the bathroom.

"Justin, if you don't get your bubble butt out here in two seconds, I am going without you!" Brian shouted up to the bedroom.

"I'm coming, I'm coming. No need to get all snippy."

As Justin stood on the steps he could hear Brian grumbling to himself, "Not with out me you don't and I can be as snippy as I wannn...WOW!" Brian's gripe quickly turned into an admiring gasp. Somehow, Justin appeared to have grown at least three inches, his hair was darker and slicked back but with that just fucked look. The suit he was wearing was of pure white linen. He was wearing a pair of high healed boots to give him more height. Justin looked as if he should be going to a white party, not a Halloween ball.

"Well?" Justin asked, he couldn't tell if Brian's stare meant he looked good or ridiculous.

"Wow!"

"You're repeating yourself."

"Justin, you look like, like..."

"You?"

"Yeah, but different."

"Is that a good different or a bad different."

"Justin, you look phenomenal. I'd do you."

"Brian, you always do me."

"Yeah but it would be like me doing me, I mean you, but me. Shit, I'm going to get a headache. Justin, you're beautiful and I'm going to have to keep an eye on you all night long."

"You mean that? I don't look stupid?"

"Anything but. But, if we don't get going now, Babylon is going to have a riot on its hands."

"Then lets stop talking and get going." Justin snarked as he headed for the door. When the light hit Justin in just the right way, the gauzy material became translucent. Brian could see the boys assets very clearly. He growled then quickly followed his partner out the door. Brian had a feeling that this was going to be a very long night.

When the lovers arrived at Babylon, the line was wrapped around the block. Brian quickly parked the Corvette in his space, got out to gallantly open the car door for his mate. The stark contrast between the two men was striking even with Justin's darkened hair. Quite a number of people had no idea that the vision in white was Justin and Brian could hear the whispers of scandal but he couldn't care less. Both Brian and Justin were accustomed to creating a scandal wherever they went so why would tonight be any different. They entered the club.

Babylon had been magically transformed into Dracula's castle. Even the backroom had foggy clouds billowing and huge spider and cobwebs in every corner. The bar tenders were serving drinks in a deep red color. The familiar thumpa thumpa music was the only give away that this was Babylon. There were ancient looking tapestries hanging on the walls and from the rafters. Bats and ravens appeared to be flying through the air and skeletons leaned against the bar. Black, white and red glitter rained from the skies. It was gothic, it was spooky and it was fun.

Brian signaled his sound man and a macabre waltz began to play. The Count took his victim's hand and began to dance him around the floor. They mesmerized the entire club. When their sensual dance ended Brian kissed Justin's hand and then in true Dracula fashion, kissed Justin's neck. Justin barely feigned his swoon, as Brian swept his victim up in his arms then carried him off the floor. The club cheered and applauded their show as the thumpa thumpa music began and the party began in earnest. After depositing Justin at the bar where the gang was waiting, the Count took his leave and became Brian, club owner, he went off to oversee the event.

Up on the catwalk, another gentleman in black, a rival count, zeroed in on the hapless victim that Dracula left in the safe keeping of his cohorts. This count was a visitor to the fair city of Pittsburgh and decided he needed a little fun and the vision in white was proving to be an interesting distraction. Of course this count had no idea who the vision was nor whom was his rightful ‘owner.' The usurping count was poised to strike.

The rival count was beautiful, tall with deep emerald eyes. He was bulkier than Brian, sable brown hair wearing tight black leather pants which accented his obvious endowments, black t-shirt, black boots and a flowing jacket that gave the appearance of a cape. He was dracula, ready to suck the life out of his victim. And the victim he chose for the night was Justin.

As a prerequisite for the ball, everyone was wearing a mask. The masks would be worn until the bewitching hour of midnight when all would be revealed. This suited dracula's plans very well. Although dracula's former career had rarely taken him to the fair city of Pittsburgh, he did have a certain reputation amongst the unseemly. Having his true identity hidden would allow Lexi the time to scope out the club, select his companion for the night and take him home to his makeshift lair, a room at Pittsburgh finest hotel.

Justin was having fun. Even the Liberty avenue gang had trouble recognizing who he was. His darkened hair, the extra height truly transform their little Sunshine into a sunnier version of big bad Brian. But then the real Brian couldn't shake his booty like Justin. No one could. Once the lad was on the dance floor, no one had any doubts to his true identity. The infamous ass was a dead give away and Lexi narrowed in on that ass.

As Justin danced, dracula went in for the kill.

"Good evening." The count said into Justin's ear as he danced in from behind Justin.

"That's way too corny." Justin laughed as he turned to see who wanted to claim him for the night.

"I know," the count laughed back. "But I couldn't help it." The count bowed and Justin nodded. Lexi and Justin danced the night away.

"Where's Justin?" Brian asked Mikey as he approached the bar.

"Don't know. He's been dancing with some guy all night. I'm afraid you may have competition." Michael said smugly. Then Mikey turned to Ben who shrugged his muscular shoulders then whisked Michael away to dance before Brian had a chance to cut his ‘best friend' a new one.

"Better keep an eye on your property, Brian. You never know when a strange count may come in and sweep Justin off his feet." Teddy snarked. Sometimes Ted enjoyed when Brian had to work to keep Justin satisfied. He and the rest of the gang had no idea how much work both Brian and Justin did to keep their relationship alive and well and thriving. They were not privy to the unspoken and spoken words of commitment Brian and Justin had made to each other.

"You know Theodore, some people can be replaced. And Justin is no one's property." Brian turned to claim what was his.

It was almost the bewitching hour when the masks would be removed. Brian had planned to be in Justin's arms at that moment. As he drew closer to his lover Brian could see that a strange count was attempting to take his place, Justin was dancing but from a polite distance from the count. In the old days, Brian would have just swooped in, growled out a ‘fuck off' and stake his claim. The new and improved Brian knew that although Justin would be flattered that his man was pissing circles, marking his territory, Brian also knew that Justin would be insulted. Justin was a grown man who could take care of himself. He always allowed Justin a choice of where and with whom he wanted to be. And Justin always chose to be with Brian. Brian was confident that no matter how handsome the interloper was Brian would be Justin's choice.

The music changed, the midnight hour was upon them. The crowd parted as Count Dracula made his way to his one and only victim for the night. Lexi recognized the Count for what he was; tall, lean and with a swagger that no man could match or not be taken with. This Count meant business and his business was the young man who had been dancing a few discrete steps away from him. Justin could feel Brian's gaze, his groin tingled with anticipation. Lexi realized he hadn't a rat's chance in hell of bedding his vision in white.

"Thank you for the dances, count but my partner will be here momentarily. I hoped you enjoyed yourself tonight." Justin said to the tall green-eyed dracula. Justin batted his baby blues by way of an apology.

"It was most enjoyable and I envy your partner. He must be something very special to have won a prize like you." Lexi replied, resigned that this would not be his night to bed the beautiful creature before him.

"He is, very special and all mine." Justin beamed with pride and love.

"Then I take my leave. Maybe one day our paths will cross again." Lexi bowed and kissed Justin's hand before being swallowed up by the crowd.

As quickly as Lexi disappeared, Brian appeared in front of Justin looking as sensual and as gorgeous as ever. A loud gong rang out, echoing like an ancient grandfather clock, striking midnight. Brian and Justin removed their masks as did the party goers. Brian stood motionless in front of Justin, one eye brow arched by way of a question. Justin smiled brilliantly at his lover. That was all the answer Brian required.

They kissed as Brian swept his lover into his arms to dance their last dance of the evening, their last dance at Babylon. There were many more dances to be had when they arrived home. Count Dracula took his very happy victim home.

Up on the catwalk, a beautiful rat in dracula's clothing watched as Brian and Justin had their dance, grinding themselves into each other and then left the club.

"Maybe one day our paths will cross again." Lexi muttered to himself then he vanished into the night.

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